$8 million does not go that far for a young mother. It's an investment in a sound, secure retirement, college for the kids, a new vehicle every few years, etc. It is not a save the world fund. My guess is people think (without really thinking) that she won $225 million when reality is $8 million.

It's nothing to sneeze at, but still....

Venom, I think you are a bit harsh on Sandra. She did not say she did not want to pay taxes, just that the amount she has to pay is overwhelming. I'm pretty sure the checks she writes to the government are much larger than the salary the government was paying her as a social worker. That is overwhelming, even after 6 years of writing those checks. It sounds to me like she's done a lot of things right, including saying "no" when warrented. Her biggest issue seems to be the beggers rather than family. As dpoly says "hounded by the greed of envy".

When I win the Powerball and Mega Million Jackpot I will be able to handle my new wealth. I will screen people well and give to those who need it. I will use a Foundation as my means of distribution for this and you just have to have the ability to say NO! And never change who you are!!!! Simple.

So she is complaining about having to write big checks to pay taxes on the free $8 million that she has in her pocket. Really?

Hawaii is not that expensive. I am sure she can find a place for $500,000 to $1,000,000. She is by herself, she does not need to live in Buckinham Palace or anything like that.

Here is an idea, take some of the money, buy a McDonald's or something else, have her kids who live off her run it and pay them from that and live off the profits as well as her interest income from other investments.

Even a borderline idiot should be able to make at leat 3% off of $8million, way more than enough to live a fantastic life if you don't have any debt, even if you did.

I am confused by her statement. Is there any job that pays you a lot of money that you don't pay taxes? If so, I want in.

The story says she "won $8 after taxes" so if she is writing huge quarterly checks to the IRS, it must be on interest or dividends. Or maybe it's income from the lottery advice book she wrote.

It's not that difficult to change her phone number and have it unlisted. I agree with you about her wanting to live in Hawaii too. Bet she is hawking her book.

I see nothing wrong with her writing a book about her win and what happened

to her, the aftermath, she's being productive and keeping herself out of trouble.

GO SANDRA!!!

"I had people calling me at work begging for money and people sending faxes with letters and sob stories and I'm like, 'I do not know these people,'" said Hayes. "I was under so much stress, I thought I was going to explode."

I'm not doubting that part of the story, but by granting the interview and saying "That's my duty as an American, to pay taxes. That's not the problem. The problem is the amount!", her problems with people begging for money will continue. Basically she is saying she still has lots of money, so much in fact she has to write a huge check quarterly to to the IRS for the taxes on her investment income.

The story also says Sandra shared the jackpot with 12 of her co-workers, but makes it sound like she was the only one singled out at her work place with all the calls and faxes asking for money. The obvious reason to me for drawing even more attention to her lottery win six years after is because she is hawking her book.

She was part of a pool so we can rule out her books being "Strategies to win a lottery jackpot" and rule out "How to become anonymous after a jackpot win". I'm not knocking her, but just pointing out that it's odd for someone to say "I was under so much stress, I thought I was going to explode" and then create even more reasons for more attention and have more stress because of it.

Personally, I believe Sandra Hayes is very intelligent and will be a lottery success story.

Nothing wrong with writing a book on the ups and downs of winning the lottery. Maybe it will incline more people to claim and/or more states to allow anonymity, as almost all the negative consequences of winning seem to have to do with other people knowing about it.

As a Texas lottery winner said on one of those shows,

"Money doesn't change you. It changes the people around you."

My thought/plan/suggestion is to not tell anyone we know, including our (young) kids. Then invest some of the money (or just some initial interest off the principal) into some sort of business you would enjoy, to provide a "cover story" for your increased wealth. Even if you can just break-even on the actual business, other people don't need to know the details, and you act like it's going very well whether it is or not. Plus, having business interests keeps your mind focused and engaged, which keeps you healthier into old age so you can enjoy your wealth. Of course, this takes much more effort, and you would have to slowly increase your spending versus a blow-out spending spree. But that's to your benefit anyway.

If you can't keep it quiet, which is more difficult the larger it is, here's my thought on giving. Clearly, have a plan/fund for annual charitable giving, choosing areas that are important to you. But have this rule: Anyone who asks is automatically disqualified. No debate, no discussion. (Other than generic funding raising/requests that are to everyone and not specifically directed at your wealth.)

That may be true, but money can help people realize their potential, and a lot of people have the potential to be world class idiots. It's easier to be successful when you have plenty of money to start with, but it's also easier to be a loser.

That may be true, but money can help people realize their potential, and a lot of people have the potential to be world class idiots. It's easier to be successful when you have plenty of money to start with, but it's also easier to be a loser.

Completely agree!

If you were irresponsible before, lots of money helps you be excessively irresponsible.

If you were an ass restrained by budget, you then have the potential to be a real A$$.

The story says she "won $8 after taxes" so if she is writing huge quarterly checks to the IRS, it must be on interest or dividends. Or maybe it's income from the lottery advice book she wrote.

It's not that difficult to change her phone number and have it unlisted. I agree with you about her wanting to live in Hawaii too. Bet she is hawking her book.

Her book was an overpriced pamphlet and had bad reviews. If she even made a thousand dollars from it (it is self published), I'd be very surprised. The comments on her book are interesting since buyers wanted real details and an actual book on what it was really like.

Justice for Cecil the lion.

Please sign the Whitehouse petition to have Walter Palmer extradited to stand trial.